Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre (PARC) recently held a special ceremony at the Resource Centre for the Arts in St. John’s, NL, to present the 2026 Jenny Munday Atlantic Canadian Play Award. This award honours Jenny Munday, PARC’s former Artistic Director, who dedicated 20 years of service to the organization, celebrating her legacy while providing vital support and recognition to playwrights from Atlantic Canada.
333 by Jay Whitehead (Prince Edward Island) was selected as the 2026 winning play. This play transports audiences to a pivotal moment in Queer Canadian history. Three “found-ins” are arrested during Operation Soap—Honey, an aging queen with nothing to lose; Darren, a closeted married man with everything to lose; and Eddy, a long-suffering bathhouse employee and recent Latin American immigrant. As the Toronto gay community rallies in the aftermath—sparking what many consider the beginning of Canada’s Pride movement—each must confront what they’re willing to risk when dignity, livelihood, and community are on the line.
From Stardust by Annie Valentina (Nova Scotia) and The Final Recordings of an Almost Extinct Bird by Stewart Legere and Ben Stone (Nova Scotia) were named first and second runners-up respectively, for their outstanding dramatic merit. The 2026 Award winner will receive a $1,500 cash prize and a PARC membership; both runner-ups will receive a $500 cash prize.
Additional shortlisted plays included: Ifrit by Jean-Michel Cliche (NB), There’s Nothing You Can Do by Cole Hayley (NL), and SubHuman by Natalie Meisner (NS). Dying at the Discotheque by Bernardine Stapleton (NL) was also recognized by the Jury as an Honourable Mention.
PARC extends its deepest gratitude to the PARC Legacy Committee and its generous donors for making this award possible, as well as this year’s jury: Lara Lewis, Charlie Rhindress & Richie Wilcox. PARC is proud to celebrate the talent and dedication of these writers and looks forward to their continued success. Special thanks are also offered to Resource Centre for the Arts Theatre for hosting the ceremony, and to Daniel MacIvor and Watermark Theatre for their annual support of this award.